In the context of the increase in the price of fuel, the freight fare has been increased by at least 50 percent. Despite the 42 and a half percent increase in diesel prices, truck-coveredvan and pickup owner-drivers are making lame arguments about increasing fares more than that. They say that increasing the rent equal to the increased rate does not harmonize them. Because the cost of living also increases due to the increase in the price of fuel oil. That cost has to be taken from the fare of goods transportation.
The government re-fixed the fuel oil price from 12:00 last Friday night. The price of diesel per liter is Rs 114, which was Rs 80 earlier. Due to the 50 percent increase in the fare, the transportation of goods which used to cost 10,000 taka, now has to pay 15,000 taka.
Tofazzal Hossain Majumder, President of Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van Owners Association told Samakal, that the price of truck-covered van was increased at the same rate as the price of diesel was increased in the past. The same has been done this time. But no office order like bus fare has been issued. In this case, an owner can take it even if he wants to take less rent. Even if more is taken, the society has nothing to do.
He also said that when there are more cars and less goods, the owners charge less rent. If the goods are more, the car is less, the rent is charged more. He also mentioned that the matter is like the theory of supply and demand. He said, “We have unofficially asked the truck-covered van owners to increase the fare by the same percentage as the price of fuel has been increased.
President of Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Drivers Union Talukdar Md. Monir said that a return trip between Dhaka and Chittagong takes 150 liters of diesel. As a result of increasing the price of diesel, one has to pay 5 thousand 100 taka more for diesel for one trip. The cost of living has also increased due to the increase in fuel prices. That cost has to be taken from the rent. Therefore, the fare of one trip by truck or covered van on the Dhaka-Chittagong route was 14 to 17 thousand taka. Now 5 thousand 100 taka extra for diesel, but the fare has been increased by 7 thousand taka.
He said, ‘We have no problem if the price of diesel increases. We cover it by raising rents from the public. As a result, there is no harm to us if the price of oil increases.’
Sagar, a truck driver, said that earlier it cost Tk 30,000 to bring a truckload of mangoes from Chapainawabganj. Now it is 45 thousand rupees. The same calculation applies in all cases.
Anwar Hossain, a wholesale onion trader of Karwan Bazar, said that earlier, transportation cost of bringing onions from Faridpur to Karwan Bazar was 80 to 90 Tk. Now it is reading 130 to 140 taka.
Abdul Quader, the owner of Noakhali Rice Agency, a wholesale rice seller in Karwan Bazar, said that after the increase in the price of fuel oil, it has been seen that the price of one kg of rice has increased by Tk 12. Along with the increase in the price of rice, the increase in the price of fuel oil is the reason for the instability in the rice market.
Transport owners-drivers said that there are other factors involved in determining the fare. If that is the type of product, the amount of weight etc. is also evaluated. A light weight product, but large in size – fares as such. If it is a product like iron, the rent is different. Because if the weight is high, the lifespan of the car engine is reduced, and the fuel consumption is also high. If this is the case, the rent is higher.
Habib Mia regularly brings vegetables from Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia in trucks and sells them in the caravan market. He said that he used to spend 13 to 15 thousand taka for the rent of big trucks (over 5 tons) to bring vegetables to Dhaka. And small trucks used to spend 8 to 10 thousand taka. Now big cars (trucks) are not available below 18 to 20 thousand. Small ones also have to pay 12,000 to 14,000 taka.
Monir Hossain, the number one salesman of Paka Sabzi Market in Karwan Bazar, said that vegetables are usually brought to Karwan Bazar in small trucks from Manikganj and Savar. Even three-four days ago, the rent of these trucks was between 2000 and 2000 taka. Now it does not want to come down to three thousand. Because of this, the price of vegetables has also increased.
